Great Planes GPMP0760, GPMP0871 User Manual

®

LITHIUM-POLYMER BATTERY

SAFETY and HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS

NEVER LEAVE A LIPO
BATTERY UNATTENDED
AT ANY TIME WHILE BEING

CHARGED! Read this manual in its
entirety before use! Damage resulting

from misuse or modifi cation will void your
warranty. Great Planes® will not be held
responsible for any and all incidental damages
and bodily harm that may result from
improper use of this battery. In purchasing
this product the buyer/user agrees to bear
all responsibilities of these risks and not
hold ElectriFly, its distributors (owners and
employees) and/or retailers responsible for
any accidents, injury to persons, or property
damage. If you do not agree with these
conditions, please return the battery to the
place of purchase.

Failure to follow these instructions can quickly
result in severe, permanent damage to the
batteries, cause personal injury, and even start
a FIRE! Before and after every use of a LiPo
battery, carefully inspect the pack to ensure
no physical damage or swelling is evident.
Such signs can often indicate a dangerous
problem exists with the battery that could
lead to catastrophic failure.

RATED SPECIFICATIONS

See each battery’s label for rated specifi cations
and charging information.

LIPO SAFETY AND HANDLING

● ALWAYS use a LiPo charge
safety bag when charging a LiPo,
such as ElectriFly’s SafeCharge™

LiPo Charge Bag (GPMP0751).

● NEVER charge a LiPo battery while it’s
inside the model. A hot pack could ignite
wood, foam, plastic, etc.

● ALWAYS charge a LiPo battery in a
fi reproof location, which could be a container
made of metal (such as an ammunition box),
ceramic tile, or a bucket of sand. ALWAYS
have a “class D” type fire extinguisher
available at all times.

● NEVER charge LiPo batteries with a NiCd
or NiMH peak charger! ONLY use a charger
specifi cally designed for LiPo batteries which
can apply the “constant current / constant
voltage” charge technique (cc/cv).

● NEVER charge ElectriFly LiPo batteries
at voltages or currents that exceed the rating
printed on the battery’s label. If unsure of
the proper charge settings, contact Product
Support at [e-mail]
or 217-398-8970, Monday through Friday
8am–5pm CST.

● NEVER allow LiPo cells to overheat at any
time! Cells which exceed 140°F (60°C) during
charge can and USUALLY WILL become
damaged physically and possibly catch

FIRE!! Always inspect a battery which has

overheated and do not re-use if you suspect
it has been damaged in any way.

● NEVER apply a trickle charge to LiPo
batteries.

● ALWAYS discontinue charging a LiPo
immediately if the battery begins to swell.
Swelling can cause the battery to rupture
and/or leak, and result in fi re. Disconnect the
battery and leave it in a safe fi reproof location

for approximately 30 minutes.

● ALWAYS discharge in a fi reproof location.

Monitor the process, and have a lithium

approved “class D” fi re extinguisher available
at all times.

CHARGING THE BATTERY

Micro

Star Plug

Female

Connector

Balancing

Connector

1. Only use a charger that is compatible

with LiPo batteries, having output
specifications matching the rated
specifi cations of the battery to be charged.
Read the charger’s instruction manual
entirely before use. Using a charger which
has a battery temperature monitor can
be helpful to ensure a full charge and
also prevent unwanted heating. Set the
charger’s maximum battery temperature
to approximately 115°F (46°C).

®

1S

2. Connect the battery’s discharge lead to
the charger’s main output. Select the
proper ElectriFly charge adapter from
the list below to match the connectors
on the charger and battery. Always
observe proper polarities. NEVER
connect the battery until the adapter is
fi rst connected to the charger! For 1S LiPo
batteries, make sure the cell’s connector
and charger’s connector are properly
aligned before attempting to connect. If
it seems diffi cult to connect 1S batteries
to the charge connector, do not force the
connection! Re-check plug orientations
before proceeding.

GPMM3148 Charge Lead, Banana
Plugs to Star Plug Male

GPMM3149 Charge Lead, Banana
Plugs to Micro

WARNING! Never allow a
battery’s positive and negative

leads to accidentally touch each
other. This will result in a short circuit and
cause permanent damage to the battery and/
or charger.

3. Connect the battery’s balancing connector

to the charger’s balancing port. ElectriFly
batteries use a JST-XH type balancing
connector (except the 1S LiPo battery).

4. Set the charger’s output voltage to match

the nominal voltage specifi cation listed
on the battery.

NEVER set the charger’s

output to a higher voltage,

or allow LiPo cells to charge
to greater than 4.20V per cell at any
time!! Failure to obey this warning usually

results in a permanent, catastrophic failure in
the LiPo cells which can result in permanent
damage to the battery and its surroundings,
and cause personal injury!

5. Set the charger’s output current to NO

GREATER than the maximum current
listed on the battery’s label.

6. Command the charger to start the charge

process. ALWAYS monitor the battery
and charger during the entire charge
process! See the warning notes above
for charging LiPo batteries.

DISCHARGING THROUGH
AN ESC / DISCHARGER

1. ALWAYS connect the battery’s discharge

plug to the electronic speed control or
discharger.

2a. If using an ESC, leave the battery’s

balancing connector unconnected. It’s
strongly recommended to use an ESC
which is designed to handle the low
voltage cutoff points for LiPo batteries.
Read the ESC’s instructions entirely
before use.

2b. If using a discharger, connect the battery’s

discharge connector to the discharger’s
main output. Connect the battery’s
balancing connector to the discharger’s
balancing port. Read the discharger’s
instructions entirely before use.

3. NEVER allow a battery to discharge
below 2.5 volts per cell at any time. Do
not discharge the battery at currents
exceeding the maximum “C” rating shown
on the battery’s label. Failure to follow
these warnings can result in the battery
overheating and failing. Do not allow a
LiPo cell to exceed 140°F (60°C) during
discharge.

BATTERIES INVOLVED IN A CRASH

LiPo batteries involved in a crash can be
dangerous. Even if no physical damage is
visible, a delayed chemical reaction could
cause the battery to ignite even after having
been removed from the crash for some time.
After a crash, place the battery in a fi reproof
location IF SAFE TO DO SO, and observe for
at least 30 minutes. Carefully inspect it for
cracks, splits, punctures, etc. Do not continue
to use damaged batteries. Refer to the
DISPOSAL OF LIPO BATTERIES section at
the end of this manual.

CAUTION! Cells may be hot! DO
NOT allow the battery’s internal

electrolyte to get in the eyes or on
skin. Wash affected areas with soap and water
immediately if they come in contact with the
electrolyte. If electrolyte makes contact with
the eyes fl ush with large amounts of water
for 15 minutes and seek medical attention
immediately. If a battery leaks electrolyte or
gas vapors, do not inhale leaked material.
Leave the area and allow the batteries to cool
and the vapors to dissipate. Remove spilled
liquid with absorbent and dispose.

OTHER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

● NEVER allow LiPo batteries to be charged
or discharged on or near combustible
materials, including paper, plastic, carpets,
vinyl, leather, wood, inside an R/C model or
full-sized automobile.

● NEVER put packs in the pocket of any
clothing.

● NEVER allow LiPo cells to come in contact
with moisture or water at any time.

● NEVER store batteries near an open fl ame
or heater.

● NEVER assemble LiPo cells or pre-
assembled packs together with other LiPo
cells/packs. Only a qualifi ed battery assembly
company should assemble or modify LiPo
batteries.

● NEVER allow LiPo cells to become
punctured, especially by metallic objects
such as screwdrivers, T-pins, or hobby knives.

● ALWAYS provide adequate ventilation
around LiPo batteries during charge,
discharge, and during storage. If a battery
becomes overheated IMMEDIATELY place it
in a fi re-proof location until it cools.

● ALWAYS store LiPo cells/packs in a
secure location away from children.

● ALWAYS make sure that metallic objects,
such as wristwatches, bracelets, or rings are

removed from your hands when handling
LiPo packs. Accidentally touching battery

terminals to any such objects could create
a short-circuit condition and possibly cause
severe personal injury.

STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION

● For long term storage, it’s recommended
to charge the cells fully, then discharge them
to a 50-60% of their rated capacity.

● Store battery at room temperature in a
cool or shaded area, ideally between 40-80ºF.

Temperatures exceeding 170ºF for greater

than 1 hour may cause damage to the battery
and cause a fi re.

● Do not expose battery packs to direct
sunlight for extended periods of time, or place
in a direct contact with any liquids. If batteries
come in contact with water, immediately dry
the battery with a clean towel.

● When transporting LiPo batteries, store
them in a fi reproof container. NEVER leave
batteries lying loosely anywhere in the car

(in the trunk, backseat, fl oor, etc.).

● ALWAYS make sure all plugs / connectors
on the LiPo battery are covered, to prevent
an accidental short. Small sections of fuel
tubing make good insulators.

● NEVER leave LiPo batteries in the car
indefi nitely as temperatures inside the vehicle
can easily rise far in excess of 120ºF which
could damage the battery.

DISPOSAL OF LIPO BATTERIES

Lithium-polymer batteries are environmen­tally friendly. For safety reasons LiPo cells
should be fully discharged before disposal
(however, if physically damaged it is NOT
recommended to discharge LiPo cells before
disposal - see below for details). The bat­teries must also be cool before proceeding
with disposal instructions. To dispose of
LiPo cells and packs:

1. Place the LiPo battery in a fireproof
container or bucket of sand.

2. If any LiPo cell in the pack has been
physically damaged, resulting in a swollen
cell or a split or tear in a cell’s foil covering,
do NOT discharge the battery. Jump to
step 5.

3. Connect the battery to a LiPo discharger.
Set the discharge cutoff voltage to the
lowest possible value, and the current
as low as 20mA if possible. It’s also
possible to discharge the battery by
connecting it to an ESC/motor system
and allowing the motor to run indefinitely
until no power remains to further cause
the system to function.

4. Discharge the battery until its voltage
reaches 1.0V per cell or lower.

5. Disconnect the battery, and submerse it
into a bucket or tub of salt water. This
container should have a lid, but it does not
need to be air-tight. Prepare a bucket or
tub containing 3 to 5 gallons of cold water,
and mix in 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of
water. Drop the battery into the salt water.
Allow the battery to remain in the tub of
salt water for at least 2 weeks.

6. Remove the LiPo battery from the salt
water and place it in the normal trash.

Hobby Services

3002 N. Apollo Drive, Suite 1
Champaign, IL 61822

[phone]

[e-mail]

www.electrifl y.com

© 2014 ElectriFly, a Hobbico company. GPMP0760 V2.1